Households told to act by July 1 or risk bigger energy bills

Millions of households are being warned they could lose out on lower energy bills unless they take a meter reading before the end of the month.

More than seven million homes face being overcharged from July 1 if they fail to submit updated gas and electricity readings, according to research by price comparison site Uswitch.com.

Experts say households on standard variable tariffs could save £50 next month alone, with the average energy bill expected to fall from £113 in June to £63 in July - thanks to lower summer usage and a drop in the energy price cap.

But anyone without a smart meter who doesn't give their supplier a reading could be billed using older, more expensive June rates - costing households up to £1.93 extra per week. If all affected homes miss the deadline, the nation could collectively waste more than £14 million in just one week.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "If you want to make the most of lower prices this summer, read your meter before July 1. It only takes a minute, and it could save you money.

"Without an accurate reading, suppliers may assume your usage falls into the old June pricing - meaning you pay more than you should."

It comes amid warnings that energy prices could rise again this autumn, as instability in the Middle East sends wholesale costs soaring. The energy price cap - which limits what suppliers can charge per unit - is expected to rise in October, just as colder weather drives up demand.

To protect against a potential autumn price shock, consumers are being urged to consider switching now. Uswitch says there are currently 10 fixed tariffs on the market cheaper than the upcoming July price cap, with the best deals offering average annual savings of around £145.

Gallizzi added: "There's a lot of global uncertainty at the moment. Fixing your energy deal now could help you stay ahead of any future hikes. If you can switch to a tariff cheaper than the July price cap, now is a good time to do it."

The call to action comes as many households admit they've lost the habit of submitting meter readings. One in five people without a smart meter haven't given their supplier a reading in the last three months, and 6% haven't done so in over a year.

Among the reasons? Forgetfulness and confusion. A third said they didn't think they needed to submit readings that often, while 16% simply forgot.

To help consumers stay on top of their bills, Uswitch has issued a simple three-step checklist:

• CHECK: Submit a meter reading before July 1 if you don't have a smart meter. This ensures you pay the correct rate for what you actually use.

• TRACK: Monitor your usage with a smart meter or an energy tracking app - it helps spot patterns and cut back where possible.

• CHANGE: Consider switching to a fixed-rate deal now, before prices rise again in October.

More help and advice, including how to read your meter, is available at Uswitch.com.